Full Breakdown
Riding the Milky Way: A Three-Day Gravel Adventure on Norway’s Mjølkevegen
8/21/2026, 5:29:59 AM
Overview of the Tour
Twelve riders from across Europe tackled the 155-mile (250 km) Mjølkevegen gravel route, averaging about 45 miles (75 km) and 1,500 m (4,900 ft) of ascent per day, finishing each stage at a mountain hotel.
Historical Roots of the Route
Built after World War II to transport milk from mountain farms, the road now serves gravel-cycling tourism.
Key Participants and Local Hosts
- Berit and Arthur – owners of Ruten Fjellstue, the inn where the tour begins; Arthur meets riders at Vinstra station.
- Silje Wilson – regional hotel promoter who leads every climb despite never having ridden a gravel bike.
- Glenn – cyclist who points out landmarks and shares local folklore.
- Guide (unnamed) – meets the party at the inn, provides hired bikes and optional support.
Route Details and Physical Demands
Riders traverse the full Mjølkevegen, passing Lake Vinstre, the Jotunheimen mountains, and Lake Bygdin, where they pause for a burger at Bygdin Høifieldshotel before boarding the century-old passenger ferry M/B Bitihorn. The ferry carries bikes and luggage across the lake, after which the group rides past peaks such as Øystre Torfinnstinden and Galdebergtinden.
On day two the party detours to Øye to view a stave church, one of only 28 surviving in Norway. Later, Glenn leads a “mother of all climbs” on the Smådalen plateau, a long incline with dozens of switchbacks that demands the group’s “cinnamon-bun fuel.”
The final day brings rapid weather changes at 800–1,300 m. Riders descend into the Slettefjell pass in rain, then face a 600-m climb over 6 km before reaching the summit café for waffles and water.
On-the-Ground Experience
Meals are supplied by the inns: a home-cooked fish plate with potatoes and cream sauce at Ruten Fjellstue, followed by apple crumble; breakfast buffets let riders assemble sandwiches wrapped in reusable beeswax cloth. Snacks such as waffles with sour-cream and berry jam, cinnamon buns, and coffee keep cyclists fueled.
Sheep frequently cross the traffic-free roads, requiring riders to swerve. At Øye, Glenn shares a legend about a “big rock” that is “starting to move” and will fall within the next 200 years, attributing it to a mythical troll.
Official Support and Services
The expedition is organized by Jotunheimen Travel, in partnership with Mountains of Norway, Innlandet Fylkeskommune, and Visit Valdres. Packages start at NOK 7,800 (£612) for two people sharing and include hotel accommodation, all meals, luggage transport, ferry tickets on M/B Bitihorn, a navigation app, backup support, CO2 compensation, and optional bike hire.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Up there a big rock is starting to move,” — Glenn
